Bypass for two-stage lint cotton cleaner



April 3, 1962 R. M. SHELBURNE BYPAss FOR Two-STAGE LINT COTTON CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

INVENTOR HAR D M .SHELBURNE April 3, 1962 R. M. SHELBURNE 3,027,504

ByPAss FOR Two-STAGE LINT coTToN CLEANER Filed Dec. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVNTOR RICHARD M.SHELBURNE ATTORNEYS 3,027,6@4 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 ffice Wicke-Etter Com an Sherman Tex. f Texas P y s a Colllrhon Filed Dec. 19, 196), Ser. No. 76,910 6 Claims. (Cl. 19--202) This `invention relates generally to the cleaning of lint cotton 1n a two-stage line cleaner wherein the lint cotton can be passed through either one or both cleaning stages. More particularly, this invention is directed to a bypass means for directing the lint from the first stage cleaner `to a press or the like; or, alternatively, for directing the lint from the first stage cleaner to the second stage cleaner, and thence out of the apparatus.

In the working of cotton it is a common practice to pass the ginned cotton through lint cleaning means prior to baling. The desirable features of lint cleaners are well known in the art, such lint cleaners substantially improving the grade of cotton by combing and smoothing the lint, by `blending spots of varying density together, as well as by removing foreign matter from the ginned cotton. In many instances, there is a distinct advantage gained in passing `the cotton through a twostage lint cleaner as the enhanced cleaning of the ginned cotton is provided particularly in instances where the ginned cotton is particularly dirty, with an excess of foreign matter embedded therein.

Thus, two-stage lint cleaners are preferably adapted to provide for cleaning of the lint cotton in alternatively one stage or both stages, with appropriate means for bypasssing the second stage as desired. In such two-stage lint cleaners the problem of providing such an apparatus which will be highly efficient without sacriiicing an undue amount of iioor space, raises numerous problems in providing efficient duct and valve bypass means.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a bypass means for two-stage cotton lint cleaners wherein the cotton is conveyed through either the first stage or both stages in a highly eiiicient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide bypass means for a two-stage cotton lint cleaner which is vfar simpler in construction than heretofore known in the art, and which utilizes a minimum of space.

Another object of this invention is to provide bypass means for a two-stage cotton lint cleaner wherein the cotton to be bypassed from the second cleaning stage is conveyed to 4the exhaust ilue in the region closely adjacent the second stage saw cylinder. Further, when it is desired to direct the lint cotton from the first cleaning stage to the second cleaning stage, means are provided for directing air into lthe low pressure exhaust region of the second stage, to provide a highly eiiicient means for conveying the cotton which has passed through both cleaning stages. i l l Still another object of this invention is toprovide a simpliiied bypass means for a two-stage lint cleaning apparatus wherein valve means are provided which direct air to the region closely adjacent the low-pressure area of the second cleaning stage when both cleaning stages are in use, and which valves direct the lint cotton to the exhaust flue when only the first cleaning stage is utilized. This arrangement provides a two-passage arrangement, a first air inlet passage being disposed closely adjacent the saw cylinder of the second cleaning stage wherein the low-pressure region exists, and a bypass passage being disposed adjacent thereto for directing the lint cotton from the first stage out of the lint cleaner.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the specification, claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view, generally in section, showing a two-stage lint cotton cleaning .apparatus with bypass means according to this invention, wherein both cleaning stages are utilized;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of the bypass means in FIGURE 1, showing the valves positioned for directing the lint cotton out of the apparatus from the rst cleaning stage.

Reference is now made to the drawings and specifically FIGURE l, which shows a two-stage lint cotton apparatus 1t), mounted on supporting legs 11, and having a first cleaning stage 12 and a second cleaning stage 14.

Cotton which has been passed through gins is blown in an air stream into the apparatus 10 through an inlet flue 16. After the lint cotton has been cleaned by either the first cleaning stage 12 or cleaning stages 12 and 14, the material is blown out of the apparatus 10 through an exhaust ilue 18 to a baling press of the like (not shown). A bypass ilue 2G is in communication with the inlet ue 16 and the exhaust ilue .18 and bypass valves 22 and 24 respectively, to provide for directing the lint cotton from the gin to a baling press without passing through the cleaning apparatus 10. The bypass valves 22 and 24 are pivotally mounted on the inlet ue 16 and the exhaust ilue 18 respectively to provide the proper direction of flow of the lint cotton, as will be understood.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the valves 22 and 24 are disposed to provide passage of the lint cotton through the apparatus 10. The first cleaning stage 12 includes a rotary driven, foraminous condenser screen drum 26 which is mounted in the casing 28 in communication with the inlet flue 16. The interior of first-stage condenser screen drum 26 is also in communication with a suction trunk 30, the suction trunk 30 having an exhaust blower (not shown) mounted therein to provide for the formation of a bat of lint cotton on the outer surface thereof, as is apparent. A transverse trunk 31 may be provided to connect a number of suction trunks thereto, wherein a battery of lint cleaners 10 are provided, as is apparent.

Rotatably mounted adjacent the lower portion of the condenser screen drum 26 are a pair of doing rolls 32 which remove the bat of cotton from the drum 26 and direct the cotton to a feeding station 34 which includes a bar and a rotating feed roller for delivering the lint cotton at a controlled speed to a first-stage saw cylinder 36.

The lint cotton which is picked up by the saw cylinder 36 is whipped about the grid bars 38 which are mounted about the periphery thereof. The lint cotton is thereby divested of most of the leaves, dirt, and other foreign matter entrained therein, this foreign matter falling downwardly to a trash hopper 40 which has a screw conveyor 42 or the like to remove the material from the apparatus 10. The lint cotton on the saw cylinder 36 is removed by virtue of a dofiing brush 44 which is mounted adjacent thereto, the dofling brush 44 rotating in the opposite direction of the saw cylinder 36, but at a somewhat higher speed. The lint cotton then passes from the dofling brush 44 to the second cleaning stage 14 which includes a second-stage foraminous condenser screen drum 46 which again forms a bat of lint cotton thereon. As is the case when the first cleaning stage, a pair of doiiing rolls 48 remove the bat of cotton which has formed on the secondstage drum 46. In this regard, the interior of the secondstage drum 46 is in communication with the suction trunk 31 by a duct 51, thereby providing 4the necessary low pressure within the interiorportion of the screen drum 46.

As the material passes through the doing rolls 48, the

lint cotton is moved to a second-stage feeding station 52 a'nd onto a second-stage saw cylinder 54, the saw cylinder 54, being generally the same well-known construction as the saw cylinder 36. A plurality of grid bars 56 are mounted about the saw cylinder 54 for removing undesirable material from the lint cotton and directing it to the trash hopper 4t) and the screw conveyer 42. A second stage dofiing brush 58 is rotatably driven in Van opposite direction to the saw cylinder 54 but, again, at a higher speed, and thereby removing the lint cotton from the saw cylinder 54 and out of the apparatus ift through the exhaust flue 18.

The general arrangement of the various elements heretofore described are now known in the art, and form no part of the present invention, except with reference to the bypass means now to be described.

The present invention is directed to the bypass means i designated generally at'6f) which provides for directing the lint cotton from the low-pressure region A adjacent the saw cylinder 54 and the dofiing brush S8, and out of the apparatus 10 through the exhaust fiue 18.

This bypass means 6ft is shown in FIGURE l in position for enhancing the movement of the lint cotton out of the second stage 14 and through the exhaust flue 18. The bypass means 6i) according to this invention includes a fixed housing 62 which partially surrounds the doiiing brush 44 and the drum 46, this housing 62 terminating in the region adjacent an imaginary line drawn through the shafts on which the brush 44 and drum 46 are mounted. A fixed member 64 is disposed adjacent the left-hand dofiing roll 48 in FIGURE l, this member 64having a iiexible portion 66 (FIGURE 2) afiixed thereto, abutting the left-hand doing roll 48. Pivotally mounted adjacent the lower portion of the fixed housing 62 is a first valve plate 63 shown in FIGURE l in position to direct the lint cotton to the doliing rolls 48. The first valve plate 68 has a flexible liner 69 (FIGURE 2) extending beyond the rigid portion thereof to provide engagement with the fixed member 64, as desired. A second valve plate 70 is pivotally mounted below the fixed member 64, and abuts a guide plate 72, as shown in FGURE l. Disposed below the second valve plate 70 is a scroll plate 74 which is fixed in the region closely adjacent the saw cylinder 54, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. This region adjacent the lower end of the scroll plate 74 is the low pressure area within the apparatus 16.

A third valve plate 76 is pivotally mounted below 'the guide plate 72, to provide a continuous passage for the lint cotton out of the exhaust fiu'e 18 in FIGURE l. According to an important feature of this invention, the air from the atmosphere is pulled into the low-pressure region. A through a passage defined generally by the arrangement of the vfirst and second valve plates 68 and 70, guide plate 72 and scroll plate 74 into the low-pressure region A of the second cleaning stage 14 adjacent the saw cylinder 54 and the dofiing brush `58. The inflowing air shown by the arrows in FIGURE l enhances to a considerable degree the movement of the lint cotton from the second cleaning stage and out through the exhaust fiue 18.

Turning now to FIGURE 2, the bypass means 6) is shown with the valve plates 68, 7i), and 76 pivoted at 68', 74) and 76 to provide for bypassing the second cleaning stage 14, the valve arrangement in FIGURE l being shown in broken lines. When it is desired to bypass the second cleaning stage 14, there is no exhaust of air from the interior of the drum 46 through the duct 51. The lint cotton thus passes through a bypass passage 5t)l which is defined generally along its outer periphery by the fixed housing portion 62, first valve plate 68 which abuts against the guide plate 72, and the third valve plate 76 which abuts against the recessed lower portion 73 of the guide plate 72. The interior wall is accordingly defined generally by the drum 46, the fixed member 64, the second valve plate 70 which abuts the recessed lower portion 65 and the fixed member 64 andthe scroll plate 74. This arrangement, as shown in FIGURE 2, provides communication to the exhaust flue 18 ywhereby the lint cotton may be moved out of the apparatus 10.

As is apparent, suitable operating means for the valves 63, 7) and 76 are provided (not shown). These valves may be mechanically operated by a common linkage, o1' simply by providing a lever operatively connected to each of the pivot members 68', 79 and 76.

The elements of the bypass means 60 are preferably connected by suitable flange means 78 to side walls St) of the apparatus lil.

It will, therefore, be seen that there has been provlded by this structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with any practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of this invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted in an illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. Bypass for a two-stage lint cotton cleaner, the second cleaning stage including a rotatably mounted saw cylinder or the like with associated trash removing means, and a rotatably mounted dofiing means disposed adjacent thereto, the lint cleaner having exhaust means communicating with lsaid second stage, the bypass comprising: means for providing a low pressure region adjacent said second-stage saw cylinder and said second-stage dofling means, housing means disposed adjacent the first cleaning stage; valve means cooperatively disposed in a first position relative to said housing means to define an air inlet passage to the low-pressure region and to direct the lint cotton from the first cleaning stage to the second cleaning stage, said valve means being movable to .a second position to define a Ibypass passage with said housing means whereby the second cleaning stage is bypassed and the lint cotton passes from the first stage to the exhaust means.

2. Bypass defined vin claim 1, wherein said second cleaning stage includes a foraminous condenser screen drum and said duct means extends downwardly from the region of said second-stage -screen drum.

3. Bypass defined in claim l wherein a portion of said bypass passage is -disposed adjacent the second stage saw cylinder, and thereby defining a portion of the air inlet passage when said valve means is in the first position.

4. Bypass defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a first valve plate disposed relative to said housing means to direct air through the air inlet passage and to block the fbypass passage when in the first position, said first valve plate dening a portion of the Ibypass passage with said housing means when in the second position.

5. Bypass defined in claim 4, said valve means including second and third valve plates, said second valve plate defining a portion of the air inlet passage with said first valve plate when in the first position, and defining a portion of the bypass passage when in the second position; said third valve plate defining a portion of the exhaust means when in the first position, and a defining portion of the bypass passage when in the .second position.

6. Bypass defined in claim 5 wherein said valve plates are pivotally mounted for movement across said bypass passage.

1,967,567 Wallace -wr July 24, 1934 

